From pastor and thought leader Stephen Chandler, Stop Waiting for Permission offers encouragement and guidance for readers looking to unlock their God-given greatness and unique, personal genius.

Chandler is one of the youngest pastors of one of the top-ten fastest-growing churches in America, Union Church located in Columbia, MD.

This highly-anticipated first publication from Chandler will give readers the tools they need to close the often overwhelming gap between where they are and all that God created them to be. This passionate, practical message will help readers discover and persevere in their purpose like never before.

Two trade books and accompanying participants guides to Andrew Stoddard of WaterBrook, by Alex Field of The Bindery. (World). Rights queries: Denise Cronin, decronin@prh.com.

WaterBrook is an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC

Ada, Mich. (December 7, 2021)—Baker Academic and Brazos Press are pleased to announce that three titles were honored by The Gospel Coalition in the 2021 TGC Book Awards.

Evangelism and Apologetics Winner

Gavin Ortlund, Why God Makes Sense in a World that Doesn’t
This winsome apologetics book for a new generation makes the case that Christianity offers a compelling explanatory framework for making sense of our world. Pastor and writer Gavin Ortlund believes it is essential to appeal not only to the mind but also to the heart and the imagination as we articulate the beauty of the gospel.

 

---

Public Theology & Current Events Winner

Andrew T. Walker, Liberty for All
Christians are often thought of as defending only their own religious interests in the public square, but they can become the strongest defenders of religious liberty for all.

 

---

Academic Theology Honorable Mention

Craig Carter, Contemplating God with the Great Tradition

---

 

The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Baker Publishing Group publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.

Media Contact: Shelly MacNaughton, (616) 450-5560, smacnaughton@bakerpublishinggroup.com

CHICAGO, IL—Independent Publishers Group (IPG) and its book manufacturing unit, IPG Ink, are pleased to announce the production of its two millionth book.

IPG Ink, which printed its first book in June 2018, processed the order that included the two millionth title and bestseller from BookBaby “The Flipping Blueprint” on December 1, 2021. “I never thought, back in 2018, that I would be hitting one million books by 2021,” said Clark Matthews, IPG Ink VP, General Manager. “To reach two million in the same period was truly unexpected, but it is testament to the power of local supply chain in the distribution market.”

The book manufacturing unit produced its one-millionth book in March of this year and has seen a year-over-year growth of 105% since 2020. In response to these successes, IPG’s manufacturing division was renamed and rebranded as “IPG Ink” in April 2021. In addition to the rebrand, IPG Ink created a Customer Experience Center where existing and prospective clients can experience the possibilities of the manufacturing process first-hand, get answers to their questions from IPG’s printing experts and see new possibilities for the supply chain of their titles.

The company has made a point of sharing its knowledge with its clients and through thought-leadership positions throughout the printing industry. Matthews was a panelist member at the BMIU webinar (April 2021), gave a one-hour case study to book manufacturers at the Ink Jet Summit in Austin, Texas (July 2021) and appeared at Canon thINK (October 2021), which discussed workflow solutions.

The unprecedented publicity and marketing throughout the year is due in large part to the leadership provided by Matthews, who was interviewed for a feature on supply chain issues in a November episode of WBEZ’s nationally recognized podcast, “Nerdette.” The story was later picked up and aired on NPR’s “Morning Edition” on Thanksgiving morning.

IPG Ink will continue to be heard in an upcoming IBPA feature on book publishing’s supply chain issues, in a case study from Standard-Horizon on cutting-edge adoption of a sophisticated conveyor system and barcode-driven variable-trim binding and trimming workflow and in a Canon case study on Conveyance, the digital workflow tool pioneered and mastered by IPG.

About Independent Publishers Group
In June of 2021, Independent Publishers Group (IPG, www.ipgbook.com) celebrated its 50th anniversary. As the original North American distributor, IPG was founded specifically to represent titles from independent publishers to the book trade. Today IPG remains committed to reimagining distribution and has grown to provide its publishers with services ranging from pre-publication consultation, global sales, marketing & publicity, supply chain, print and digital distribution, data and reporting, to print brokerage. With consistent growth year over year, IPG’s success has come from giving publishers broader reach into more markets, including general trade, academic, children’s, Spanish and special markets.

Media Contact: Sidney Thompson, Corporate Communication, 312.337.0747, sthompson@ipgbook.com 

Nashville, Tenn.—Beyond the Bus: Rosa Parks Life, Lessons, and Leadership, a heartfelt collection of wisdom truths and anecdotes gleaned from author H.H. Leonards’ friendship with Mrs. Parks is available for pre-sale on December 1, the day that Mrs. Parks was arrested for refusing to relinquish her bus seat to white passengers.

“This book is about my time with Mrs. Parks and the things she opened me up about and schooled me on. It is very much a compilation of the lessons I learned with her, the gems of wisdom she taught,” Mrs. Leonards shared. “I want this book to touch people’s soul because that’s what Mrs. Parks did for me. She touched my soul.”

R.H. Boyd, now in its fifth generation of leadership and celebrating 125 years of printing and publishing, was founded by formerly enslaved Dr. Richard Henry Boyd. The Nashville-based enterprise is expanding beyond its curriculum offerings to include book publishing.

“We are so excited to be the publishing partner with Mrs. Leonards and to share with the world insights into the ‘Mother of the Civil Rights Movement,’” said Dr. LaDonna Boyd, president/CEO of R.H. Boyd. “Beyond the Bus reveals more than the stories that have been shared about Mrs. Parks in history books. These vignettes and the gems of wisdom she deposited in the author offer us a deeply personal look into the heart of such a powerful, yet humble spirit.”

On August 30, 1994, Civil Rights icon Mrs. Rosa Parks was robbed and assaulted in her central Detroit home. The assailant had broken down the door but alleged he had chased away an intruder. He requested a reward, but after Mrs. Parks paid him, he demanded more money.

When Mrs. Parks refused to pay him more, he attacked her with sufficient force to require hospitalization and a long period of physical and mental recovery. The thief was apprehended and convicted, but Mrs. Parks had a great deal of anxiety about returning to the home.

That tragic episode was the catalyst that prompted a fortuitous meeting of two women who would become close friends.

H.H. Leonards is the founder and chairman of The Mansion on O Street in Washington, DC, the place Mrs. Rosa Parks called her home-away-from-home for the last decade of her life.

Pre-order today at www.rhboyd.com/rosaparks.

Media Contact: Emmanuel LeGrair, marketing@rhboyd.com

WESTMONT, IL—The Gospel Coalition has announced that five IVP books were given Honorable Mention titles in the 2021 TGC Book Awards. Drawing from the thousands of resources produced by Christian publishers this year, the TGC staff, along with dozens of key contributors, took stock of the best Christian books across eleven categories and recently announced their top choices.

The IVP books that were given Honorable Mention titles in the 2021 TGC Book Awards include:

You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World by Alan Noble was one of the honored titles in the Christian Living category. As the Heidelberg Catechism puts it, “I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.” In You Are Not Your Own, Alan Noble explores how this simple truth reframes the way we understand ourselves, our families, our society, and God. Contrasting these two visions of life, he invites us past the sickness of contemporary life into a better understanding of who we are and to whom we belong.

John Inazu, Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis, said, “In this timely meditation, Alan Noble reminds us that brokenness, loneliness, and purposelessness will not be conquered by living our best life, finding our true self, or even belonging to the right family, club, or church. To the contrary, our greatest fears and anxieties are not problems to be solved but mysteries to be embraced through the knowledge of self that comes only from knowing that the self belongs to Christ.”

The Flourishing Pastor: Recovering the Lost Art of Shepherd Leadership by Tom Nelson was awarded an Honorable Mention title in the Ministry category of the TGC Book Awards. Drawing on the image of the shepherd leader, Tom Nelson offers pastors wisdom and timely vision for leadership that integrates in-depth biblical teaching and whole-life discipleship, providing a road map for ministry resilience and longevity.

“Talented preachers and leaders who are not mature and wise pastors may draw a crowd,” said Timothy Keller, Redeemer City to City, “but they will not help believers ‘grow in grace’ (2 Peter 3:18) and Christlikeness in both their private and public lives. Tom Nelson’s fine book will help rehabilitate the importance of the work of shepherding in our churches.”

Changed into His Likeness: A Biblical Theology of Personal Transformation by J. Gary Millar was chosen as an Honorable Mention title in the Academic Theology category. In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume Gary Millar explores the nature of gospel-shaped change, focusing on “life in the middle”—between the change that is brought about when we become Christians and the final change in which we will be raised with Christ. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works composing New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles.

We the Fallen People: The Founders and the Future of American Democracy by Robert Tracy McKenzie was among the honored titles in the History & Biography category. Arguing that we must take an unflinching look at the nature of democracy—and therefore, ourselves—historian McKenzie explores the ideas of human nature in the history of American democratic thought, from the nation’s Founders through the Jacksonian Era and Alexis de Tocqueville.

Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center and dean of the School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership, said, “Tracy McKenzie’s book We the Fallen People is an exercise of deep objective thought that will help Christians process the tumult of American government and politics. McKenzie helps us to think Christianly as American citizens about the future of our democracy. This book couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry into the News by Jeffrey Bilbro was awarded an Honorable Mention title in the Public Theology & Current Events category. Bilbro invites readers to take a step back and gain some theological and historical perspective on the nature and very purpose of news. In Reading the Times he reflects on how we pay attention, how we discern the nature of time and history, and how we form communities through what we read and discuss.

“Like a teacher, Bilbro questions readers about our ways of responding to media, and he leads us to consider how our participation with contemporary news forms us and our community,” said Jessica Hooten Wilson, Louise Cowan Scholar in Residence at the University of Dallas, and author of Giving the Devil His Due. “By contextualizing our reading of the news within kairos, Bilbro shows Christians how, as T. S. Eliot writes, ‘to apprehend the point of intersection of the timeless with time.’ A relevant and timeless book about how Christians should belong in but not of this world.”

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com/award-winners.

CHARLOTTE, NC– The Good Book Company announces that God’s Very Good Idea, written by Trillia Newbell and illustrated by Catalina Echeverri, has surpassed 100,000 units in print sales.

A staple in the popular Tales That Tell The Truth series for children, God’s Very Good Idea is a favorite among families and churches. The Biblically faithful story, published in 2017, celebrates diversity as it teaches young children how they can be part of God’s delightfully different family.

In celebration of this sales milestone, The Good Book Company is offering customers a limited-time opportunity to purchase five copies for $25 so they can gift others with this beautiful gospel-centered message.

Trillia Newbell’s second book in this series releases soon. Titled The Big Wide Welcome, and again illustrated by Catalina Echeverri (The Good Book Company, January 2022.) It builds upon the idea of celebrating diversity by inspiring young children to be like Jesus by loving others, using the teaching on favoritism from James chapter 2.

Reflecting on the ministry of God’s Very Good Idea and the upcoming release of The Big Wide Welcome, Executive Vice President Publishing Carl Laferton says, “I so appreciate Trillia’s heart for the gospel and for helping kids embrace God’s plan for his world and for them. God’s Very Good Idea has impacted so many lives—not just children’s, but their parents’ too. And having had the privilege of seeing The Big Wide Welcome develop, I’m excited to see how the Lord might use this wonderful follow-up.”

To support parents and children’s ministry workers engaging with kids on the topic of Biblical diversity and loving others like Jesus, The Good Book Company is will be offering free downloads of coloring sheets.

For media inquiries and access to promotional assets, contact: publicity@thegoodbook.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trillia Newbell is a prominent voice on issues of faith, family, and diversity and has been widely published, including on numerous websites, such as Desiring God, Christianity Today, and the Gospel Coalition. She is currently an acquisitions editor for Moody Publishers and previously worked for several years as the Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Trillia lives near Nashville with her husband, Thern, and their children.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Catalina Echeverri is a Colombian freelance illustrator specializing in children’s books. She is based in London, UK, and illustrated the bestselling The Garden, The Curtain and the Cross.

ABOUT THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY
Founded in 1991, The Good Book Company (TGBC) is an international Christian publisher. Their Bible studies, books, devotionals, videos, tracts, evangelistic courses, and training materials are used throughout the English-speaking world, and in translation in over 35 languages worldwide. Everyone at TGBC is passionate about the Lord Jesus, His word, His church, and His gospel of grace. They create and publish biblical, relevant, and accessible resources that will encourage Christians to keep going, keep growing, and keep sharing their faith.

Carol Stream, Ill. (December 2, 2021) NavPress, in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, will release Good Night Classics on April 5, 2022. In this beautifully written and illustrated exploration of fairy tales through the lens of the gospel, classic stories illuminate the truths of Scripture in ways children will love.

• Geppetto walks through the woods to carve out his creation
• Jack learns that money isn’t the treasure he needs
• Gretel discovers the dangers of temptation
• The three little pigs find out how important a firm foundation is
• Pinocchio listens to his father’s call to come home and be made new

Including a Scripture-based discussion guide for families, these captivating retellings of beloved fairy tales will help families explore biblical truths, strengthen familial bonds, and draw closer to God.

David Zimmerman, publisher for NavPress, says, “It’s a growing conviction of mine that Christian publishing these days is, as much as anything, an act of pulling back the curtain on the ways that God is a living and active presence in our world. Our world is, of course, what we make it—our craft and culture, the work of our hands—and an example of that is the classic tales on display in Good Night Classics. But the world is also a creation of God. The stories in this book are well known and well loved. But Good Night Classics pulls back the curtain on them to show that the stories we love are so often echoing the love that God has for us and speaks into the world. Casey Fritz has the right mix of brilliances—beautiful art and a great alertness to God’s presence. He points out here the good news of God’s love peeking through the cracks of each of these stories.”

For more information or for media inquiries, please contact Amanda Woods: amandawoods@tyndale.com.

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT) and also offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh, new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, contributing a majority of annual revenue—more than $110 million dollars throughout its history—to charitable missions. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

The NavPress mission is to advance the calling of The Navigators by bringing biblically rooted, culturally relevant, and highly practical products to people who want to know and love Christ more deeply. Through The Message Bible and other insightful resources, NavPress seeks to bring positive spiritual movement to people’s lives. In January 2014, NavPress entered into an alliance with Tyndale House Publishers to strengthen and better position NavPress and its rich content for the future. NavPress provides books and other content that bring spiritual impact and life transformation, and that help lead in the mission of making disciples.

Contact: Amanda Woods, amandawoods@tyndale.com, 630.784.5125

WHEATON, Ill., December 2, 2021—Crossway is pleased to announce that two books—The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World and The Path to Being a Pastor: A Guide for the Aspiring—have been named winners in their respective categories for the Gospel Coalition’s 2021 Book Awards.

The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World (Crossway, February 2021) by Brett McCracken was awarded in the Christian Living category. Helping believers navigate today’s media-saturated culture, McCracken presents a biblical case for wisdom and points readers to more lasting and reliable sources of wisdom—not for their own glorification, but ultimately for God’s. TGC comments, “This is an important book for anyone who is drowning in digital content—in other words, it’s an important book for all of us.”

The Path to Being a Pastor: A Guide for the Aspiring (Crossway, August 2021) by Bobby Jamieson was awarded in the Ministry category. Written from personal experience, Jamieson lays the groundwork for aspiring leaders to walk through various stages of ministry preparation, trusting that the Lord will direct their steps on the path to becoming a pastor. “For a destination as important as the pastorate, we would do well to think carefully about the journey. Jamieson’s book helps us do just that,” writes TGC.

Titles that received honorable mentions include:

• Deacons: How They Serve and Strengthen the Church (Crossway, April 2021) by Matt Smethurst in the Ministry category

• Ten Words to Live By: Delighting in and Doing What God Commands (Crossway, March 2021) by Jen Wilkin in the Proper Theology category

• Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, April 2021) by Michael Kruger in the Evangelism & Apologetics category

• Pure in Heart: Sexual Sin and the Promises of God (Crossway, July 2021) by Garrett Kell in the First-Time Author category

• Journey to the Cross: A 40-Day Lenten Devotional (Crossway, January 2021) by Paul David Tripp in the Bible Study & Devotional Literature Category

The Gospel Coalition, founded in 2005, reviews nearly three hundred books per year on their website and in their academic journal, Themelios. Awards are given to titles that are gospel-centered, faithful to Scripture, spiritually discerning, and unifying and renewing for the church.

Founded in 1938, Crossway is a not-for-profit global Christian publishing ministry that publishes gospel-centered, Bible-based content to honor our Savior and serve his church. Crossway seeks to help people understand the all-encompassing implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s word—for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God alone. Crossway is the global publisher of the ESV® (English Standard Version®) Bible, more than 1,000 Christian books, and an extensive list of gospel literature. For additional information, visit crossway.org.

Contact: Lauren Susanto, lsusanto@crossway.org, crossway.org

Bestselling author of ‘Let’s All Be Brave’ and ‘100 Days to Brave’ guides kids through 100 devotions to find courage and bravery in new book

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec. 1, 2021—What does it mean to be brave? Bravery comes in all shapes and sizes, the requirements of which are tailored to an individual’s unique life experiences—including children. Today’s kids are going through a lot, from bullying and anxiety to loneliness and loss, and though they may feel fearful or anxious, they’re already braver than they know.

In her new book, 100 Days to Brave for Kids: Devotions for Overcoming Fear and Finding Your Courage (Zonderkidz, Jan. 25, 2022), nationally known speaker and the bestselling author of Let’s All Be Brave and 100 Days to Brave, Annie F. Downs tailors her insight and encouragement for being brave to 8- to 12-year-olds, guiding them through 100 devotions that will help them overcome their fears, find courage, and discover the freedom and boldness that comes with being brave.

“We want to be brave because we want to be exactly who God made us to be, live the story He has for our lives, and not miss out on any good thing because of fear,” writes Downs. “This book is not about making you brave, it’s about showing you how brave you already are.”

100 Days to Brave for Kids helps kids see that they were always meant to be brave. From dealing with fears, anxiety, and difficult changes in life, Annie presents honest wisdom and humor giving kids the courage and confidence to embrace the plan God has for their lives.

Kids will discover:

• How to be the best version of themselves
• How to defeat fear so it doesn’t hold them back
• Their unique gifts
• How to create daily habits that will help them face any circumstance

Featuring a brightly embossed hardcover with glitter detail, 100 Days to Brave for Kids is the newest of Downs’s ‘Brave’ titles, and the perfect gift for readers ages 8-12. Other titles in Downs’s ‘Brave’ collection include 100 Days to Brave: Devotions for Unlocking Your Most Courageous Self, 100 Days to Brave Guided Journal: Unlock Your Most Courageous Self, and 100 Days to Brave Deluxe Edition: Devotions for Unlocking Your Most Courageous Self, and Let’s All Be Brave, which will be repackaged and rereleased January 25, featuring a beautifully designed cover.

About the Author
Annie F. Downs is a New York Times bestselling author, nationally known speaker, and podcast host based in Nashville, Tennessee. Her books include 100 Days to Brave, Remember God, Looking for Lovely, That Sounds Fun, What Sounds Fun to You? and Let’s All Be Brave. Annie hosts the popular weekly That Sounds Fun podcast and is a huge fan of bands with banjos, glitter, her community of friends, boiled peanuts, and soccer. Read more at anniefdowns.com and follow her on Instagram @anniefdowns.

Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imaginative, innovative and educational resources that represent a Christian worldview and build up God’s children and teens. For additional information, please visit www.zonderkidz.com.

Zondervan is a world-leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, as part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan’s offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Media Contact: Jessica Westra, Director of Publicity, Zonderkidz, Jessica.Westra@harpercollins.com, 616-403-6628

The speculative fiction house represents OFM’s first step into print publishing

CAROL STREAM, IL, December 6, 2021—Oasis Family Media today announced the acquisition of Enclave Publishing, a leading independent publisher of Christian speculative fiction whose catalog includes 2021  Christy Award–winners Forsaken Island by Sharon Hinck and Mortal Sight by Sandra Fernadez Rhoads.

As of January 1, 2022, Enclave Publishing will be a division of Oasis Family Media, alongside Oasis Audio and its imprints, Paperback Classics and Hollywoodland Audiobooks.

Steve Laube, founder and publisher of Enclave, will remain the publisher and curator of the brand. Laube said, “We are truly excited about this opportunity. I have long believed that speculative fiction is unique in its ability to tell fantastic stories of philosophical and theological depth. This new partnership will give these books the support they need to reach new and, hopefully, ravenous readers.”

Oasis Audio announced an exclusive audio publishing agreement with Enclave Publishing in September. The move to acquire Enclave in its entirety will expand Oasis Family Media’s extensive catalog of audiobooks to include print editions for the first time in the company’s history.

Oasis Family Media CEO Jonathan Morris said, “We at Oasis Family Media are thrilled to bring Enclave Publishing on board. For a while now, Oasis has considered expanding into the world of print and I am excited for the opportunity to do so alongside a team with whom we share a common vision. I believe that Enclave and Oasis are a perfect fit, and I look forward to working together to build something truly great.”

Oasis Family Media has made several significant collection acquisitions in recent years under the direction of Oasis Audio Publisher and Oasis Family Media President Steve Smith, including an exclusive master audiobook license with Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

“Enclave will continue to do what they do best — science fiction, fantasy and steampunk stories told through a Christian lens,” Smith said. “Enclave sets the standard for Christian speculative fiction. They bring incredible artistry and imagination, and we look forward to bringing these stories to an even broader audience.”

Enclave Publishing print and audiobook editions will be available on all major platforms.

About Oasis Family Media
Oasis Family Media shares stories that spark wonder — from beloved classic tales to brilliant new adventures. OFM is home to Oasis Audio, one of the largest independent audiobook publishers in the United States, as well as two imprints: Paperback Classics and Hollywoodland Audiobooks. Oasis Audio is the exclusive audio publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library. The full OFM catalog comprises more than 1,700 titles, adding 200 new audiobooks annually. To learn more, visit oasisfamilymedia.com.

Contact: Steve Smith, ssmith@oasisaudio.com, (630) 668-5367 x 105